The renowned global magazine Time Out has included two Czech cinemas in its ranking of the world's top 100. You can find them in Prague.
Kino Edison – 75th Place
"An intellectual film center where the curator's hand is always pulling at the curtains," writes Time Out magazine about Edison Filmhub. "With its serious Czech functionalism and Bauhaus-inspired furniture, it's a destination for design pilgrims and film fans," the magazine says, without even mentioning Zichovec on tap.
"We honestly didn't expect this honor. We do our work with love every day, the best we can, for almost seven years now," say Ivan Hronec, CEO and founder of the distribution company FilmEurope, and Dominik Hronec, creative director of Film Europe. "Edison Filmhub is not just about quality films but also about the culture of life, unique architecture, select coffee, and a human, respectful approach to everyone who enters our doors. We bring an experience that keeps our most important visitors coming back – our viewers and customers."
Kino Lucerna – 65th Place
Just a few spots higher is the nearby Kino Lucerna, admired for its beauty by Berlin-based editor Kate Bettes. "This art nouveau cinema with art deco elements has been enchanting Prague since 1909. Check out the 'Kino Lucerna' sign with its original turn-of-the-century typography. It's located right past the hanging statue of Saint Wenceslas on an upside-down horse," she wrote.
Unfortunately, no cinema in Slovakia made it to this prestigious list, but our shared historical state still secured a spot. A partial shared success is the 92nd place, which went to The Byrd Theatre in Virginia, USA, whose auditorium is lit by a 5.5-meter-tall, 2.5-ton chandelier made from over 5,000 Czechoslovak crystals.
Which cinemas did Time Out rank the highest in the world?
5th Place – New Beverly Cinema, Los Angeles
"You must visit Quentin Tarantino's single-screen repertory cinema in Los Angeles. Known for its slogan 'always on film,' it only screens 35mm prints – often from the director's personal collection. The monthly program is a blast of genre film, from world cinema and kung fu films to obscure horror and exploitation films,” writes Gillian Glover about New Beverly.
4th Place – BFI Southbank, London
"BFI cinema might be hiding under a bridge like a troll, but maybe it fits the fairy-tale treasure inside. This brutalist gem is the center of film in the UK, an archive, and exhibition space with an outstanding library of film publications and a 'mediatheque,' a room full of crescent-shaped sofas where you can dive into the archive of British film and TV treasures," describes the cinema Helen O'Hara.
3rd Place – Film Forum, New York
"The most important independent nonprofit cinema in New York has been running for half a century, and for good reason: it's a small but mighty venue with four screens, open 365 days a year, offering a fascinating mix of American independent premieres, foreign art films, genre works, director retrospectives, and special programs (from filmmaker presentations to live piano accompaniment for Chaplin classics)," describes Christina Izzo, a favorite cinema of one of the most famous film critics – Roger Ebert.
2nd Place – The Stella Cinema Rathmines, Dublin
"Whether you're captivated by the beautiful facade or the orderly queue of excited patrons, one thing is certain at The Stella Cinema: the visit experience is unique. The bar and foyer, beautifully restored to their roaring '20s glory, buzz with the sounds of big band jazz, while you're guided by glittering chandeliers and velvet ropes," writes James Balmont in Time Out magazine.
1st Place – TCL Chinese Theatre, LA
This place is a must-see for Hollywood blockbuster fans at first glance: “This pagoda-shaped movie palace from 1927, almost as synonymous with Hollywood as the hillside sign, is a favorite venue for red carpet premieres, both in real life and on the silver screen. There's a reason this reputation endures – and why even the most hardened Angelenos push past tourists posing with the cement prints of Marilyn Monroe and R2-D2 in the forecourt."
